Seoul Criticized for Sweeping Information on North Korean Nukes under Carpet

The South Korean government came under fire yesterday for allegedly withholding intelligence about North Korea's secret nuclear program, which it obtained and provided the United States with three years ago.

The Defense Ministry admitted that it had learnt of North Korea's attempt to import uranium-enhancing equipment from abroad in 1999.

"The 1999 intelligence was rudimentary. The government handed the information to the United States and proposed that the two sides secure and share additional intelligence," said Brig. Gen. Hwang Eui-don, a ministry spokesman.

On Friday, Defense Ministry Lee Jun reported the fact during a closed-door session of the parliamentary defense committee.

"The Korean and U.S. administrations maintained close consultation on the issue. Our government became aware of the seriousness of the North's uranium-based nuclear program this August when John Bolton, U.S. undersecretary of state on arms control, offered 'decisive' evidence," Hwang said.

He declined to elaborate on or disclose the source of the intelligence.

A high-profile North Korean defector's testimony was one of the clues to the North's covert program, according to Hwang.

Kim Duk-hong, a close aide to Hwang Jang-yop, former North Korean ruling party secretary who defected to the South, said that Pyongyang had already developed nuclear weapons using uranium, instead of plutonium, in an interview with a Japanese weekly magazine in April 1999.

"It could be said that parts of the interview were similar to intelligence we had," Hwang said.

The majority Grand National Party (GNP) criticized the government for hiding knowledge of the North's nuclear program for three years for fear of damaging President Kim Dae-jung's "sunshine policy" of engaging the communist North.

The party raised suspicions that North Korea might have appropriated proceeds from inter-Korean tourism projects to finance the nuclear weapons program.

"It is shocking that the government has covered up the North's nuclear program for such a long period of time while continuing to pursue the sunshine policy," GNP Chairman Suh Chung-won said.

"The $400 million that Hyundai paid the North in connection with the Mt. Geumgang tourism business and another $400 million the government offered the North secretly through Hyundai Merchant Marine may have been funneled into the North Korean project," he said.

The GNP leader urged the government and Hyundai to put an end to the inter-Korean tourism business and apologize to the public.

Rep. Lee Bu-young maintained that the North's nuclear program started in earnest after the Kim administration took office.

"North Korea should clarify how it has financed the nuclear development project, which is said to cost more than $1 billion," Lee said.

Nam Kyung-pil, a GNP spokesman, accused the government of criminal behavior for abetting the enemy and demanded President Kim apologize and punish those who covered up the intelligence and gave financial aid.

Nam indicated that the GNP is considering demanding a National Assembly investigation into the issue.